Rocker suspension



NW lan-Q N5@ W. B. KIRKWOOD ETAL 295295@ ROCKER SUSPENSION Filed May 8,1945 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROCKERSUSPENSION Application May 8, 1946, Serial No. 668,072

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a rocker.

The chief object of this invention is to provide in a rocker anon-tipping structure which can be used for reclining purposes and whichrocker comprises two main parts, same having relative gliding movementtherebetween.

The chief feature of the present invention resides in providing a baseand enveloping same by the chair proper, same being suspendinglzysupported by the base by links and having a gliding like motion oraction.

Another chief feature resides in the provision of stop means forlimiting forward and rearward extreme oscillation of the chair part.

A further chief feature resides in the combination pivot and anchormember and the formation of same.

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fullyhereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a rockerembodying the invention, dotted lines indicating the cushion and/orupholstering thereof, dot and dash lines indicating eXtreme positions ofoscillation,

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of at least the base and base envelopingportion of the chair part and the suspension support therebetween and ofthe rocker.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of a connecting link, anassociated rocker part. and the combination pivot and anchorconstruction, the pivot member thereof being shown in elevation.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, Il) indicates a pair of side membersof a base, same having downwardly and outwardly extending feet portionsI| fore and aft for chair clearance and greater effective bearing area.Connected at opposite ends to members I and bridging same to form anopen box rectangular or square frame are front and back members I2.

Positioned outside of member I@ are the chair side members I3 havingtheir forward ends connected together by bridging front member I4. Atthe rear end is rearwardly and downwardly inclined bridging member I5.Corner blocks such as illustrated at I6 may be employed whenever andwherever desired or required.

Extending upwardly from the rear end of each outside member I3 is theportion l'I, These are connected at the upper ends by cross member I8and adjacent member l5 is upwardly and rearwardly directed cross memberI9. Arm is secured at its rear end to the adjacent upright |'I and issupported near its forward end by depending member 2| secured at itslower end to side member I3.

Bridging the members I4 and I5 and secured at opposite ends thereto arethe sinuous spring members 22 connected laterally by wire links 23 andtied down by side helicals 24.

In a like manner the back structure may be anchored to cross-members I8and I 'I. Thereon are the upholstered and/or cushion mats 25 and 26respectively.

Except for the feet II the base is substantially enveloped by the chairproper. Herein near the upper edge of each base side member l0 arepivots 21 and 28. Adjacent same in chair side member I3 are parallelpivots 29 and 3U. Substantially equal length links 3| and 32 areconnected with pivots 2'I and 29 and 28 and 30 respectively forswingingly supporting the chair from and by the base.

In Fig. 3, |0 indicates the base side member, 2'I the front pivot memberand 3| the link member. Since all eight pivots are identical adescription of one should sviice for all.

Herein a screw slotted head bears directly upon link 3| althoughcountersunk and seated thereon. Shank 4I is cylindrical and has ashoulder 42. The pivot includes threaded extension 42 of appreciablelength. A nut 43 is threaded thereon and is stopped by shoulder 42. Theshank extension passes through side member ID and mounts washer 44 andnut 45. Thus the pivot member is rigidly clamped to the base side memberbut is loosely mounted with respect to link 3|.

Thus each link has a non-clamped pivotal or free pivotal support uponthe base and chair and without cramping of the link.

As a result the chair can be swung forwardly, see double dot and dashlines, and rearwardly in a sliding or gliding like fashion, to wit, moreor less to and fro substantially rectilinearly rather than oscillate onan arc as in the case of runner type rockers. Not the base pivots arepositioned above the chair pivots and are farther apart, fore and aft,than the chair pivots. Thus the links at either side are normallydirected in a converging manner from top to bottom.

Also stops 46 and ill on member I constitute Stops which arelselectively engaged by the links 3l-32 for limiting the extrememovements of the chair. Thus the chair is prevented from overturningrearwardly, especially when tilted backward sufficient for recliningpurposes, see single dot and dash lines.

In either extreme position, that is, forward or rearward, the rearwardor forward links respectively are disposed approximately transversely ofthe forward or rearward links respectively, in other words, the linksare not connected in parallel motion attaining arrangement so thatresulting chair movement is a composite or hybrid of a parallel motionand a conventional rocking motion.

Except for the upholsery and the springs, metal ties or clips and thepivot structure, the chair frame base and linkage therebetween is all ofwood.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detailin the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be consid eredas illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The modification described herein as well as others which will readilysuggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered tobe within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a rocker, spaced parallel chair and base members each providedwith spaced parallel laterally disposed openings, a pair of linksinterposed between said members and each having laterally extendingpivot openings near their ends to align respectively with the openingsof said members, pvot members in said aligned openings, each pivotmember comprising a straight shank having a reduced threaded portion topass through one of the openings in said chair or base members and anenlarged bearing portion to seat in one of the openings in one of saidlinks, a head at the outer end of each of said enlarged portions toengage with a face of said link, a shoulder at the juncture of thereduced and enlarged portions, the said shoulder of each pivot memberterminating substantially flush with a side of said link when the saidhead is engaged with the opposite face thereof, a spacing memberenclosing said reduced portion and engaged at one side with saidshoulder and at its opposite side with the adjacent chair or basemember, and a nut engaged with each threaded portion to clamp theadjacent chair or base members against said spacing member.

2. In a rocker having a chair member and a base member, each havingspaced parallel sides, adjacent sides of said members being disposed inclose proximity to each other, the combination therewith of a pair ofsubstantially equal length links disposed between each pair of suchsides and of a thickness approximately half the distance therebetween,and oppositely directed pivot members carried by each link and near theends thereof and rigid with the adjacent chair and base members, theends of the pivot members associated with the links being suitablycountersunk in the links, and a link spacing and clamping nut upon eachpivot member between the link and associated member side.

3. In a rocker having a chair member and a base member, each havingspaced parallel sides, adjacent sides of said members being disposed inclose proximity to each other, the combination therewith of a pair ofsubstantially equal length links disposed between each pair of suchsides and of a thickness approximately half the distance therebetween,and oppositely directed pivot members carried by each link and near theends thereof and clamped to the adjacent chair and base members, theends of the pivot members associated with the links being suitablycountersunk in the links, each pivot member including a shoulderimmediately contiguous to the face of the link confronting the face ofthe adjacent member side to which said pivot member is clamped.

WALTER B. KIRKWOOD. WAYNE R. STEVENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,674,517 Newson June 19, 19282,302,387 Greeno Nov. 17, 1942 2,346,629 Travers Apr. l1, 1944

